July 4th is deadliest day on the road

July 4th may be a day for barbecues, family gatherings, parades and fireworks, but according to a highway safety report, it is also the deadliest day on the road for motorists.

According to statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, more than 670 people were killed on July 4 combining the years 2007-2011, which equals an average of 134 deaths on that day each year.

Teens accounted for six percent of the driving fatalities on July 4, according to the Institute.

The report notes that car crashes are the number one cause of death for all Americans of the age group of 1-34 years with teens crashing four times more often than others.

Companion research from the Allstate Foundation found that 75 percent of teens admit that reading and responding to texts behind the wheel is a dangerous distraction, and yet research also indicates many teen drivers text anyway.

Allstate research found that 44 percent of Pennsylvania teen drivers admit to texting behind the wheel.

The study, which pointed to the need for more education and for better examples for teen drivers, also found:

• 45 percent of teens said their parents use phones while driving,

• 26 percent of parents admit to making and answering phone calls while driving, and

• 87 percent of teens said they would speak up in a car with someone who was driving in a way that made them feel uncomfortable.

“Teen attitudes are constantly changing thanks to the awareness efforts around texting and driving,” said Julia Reusch, Allstate spokesperson. “However, our research found that 44 percent of Pennsylvania teen drivers admit to texting behind the wheel, which shows a need for more education.”

Parents should discuss the risks of distracted driving, and even more important, set an example of setting aside phones while driving.

Making calls, answering calls, texting or reading texts are distractions that can prove disastrous for drivers, parents and teens alike.